'Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men' — Lord Acton

Your profile described here looks at 3 aspects of influence (how you help yourself):

How you think you usually influence others (your thinking),

How others believe you tend to influence others (how others evaluate what you do), and

How you are likely to want to, or try to influence others (your feeling).

Reflection: Nineteenth century British soldiers described two types of officer: ‘come on’ leaders (those who lead by example) and ‘go on’ leaders (those who lead by persuasion or compulsion). Which style do you think is generally more effective in your environment and why?

The results suggest that the way you think you usually influence others is by using persuasion. You probably want to gain others’ commitment and may influence by forcing through your argument which may mean you appear as if you are lecturing others at times. You might increase your general effectiveness at influencing if you are more alert to when a directive approach (when the people do not have the ability), or participative approach (when the people are unenthusiastic), is more effective. Overall you may find yourself naturally convincing others.

The results suggest that the way Person BB thinks you usually influence others is by using your authority. You probably want to gain a satisfactory outcome and may influence others by threatening with consequences which may mean your approach appears rather heartless to others at times. You might increase your general effectiveness at influencing if you are more alert to when a participative and less directive approach (when the people are unenthusiastic), or consultative approach (when the people have neither the ability nor the enthusiasm), is more effective. Overall you may find yourself naturally directing others.

Generally, it does not appear that others would see you typically overuse one particular style of influence. This might be because you adopt a flexible approach to influencing others dependent on the situation, or because you do not have much opportunity or desire to influence others. It may be useful to ask others for feedback both on how you influence well and how you could influence more effectively.

The results suggest that you want to influence others more participatively or charismatically. You probably want to influence people to engage with each other and like to recognise and praise them. You may try influencing using a relationship focus and this is useful when the person(s) have the ability but not the enthusiasm.

Using the information above, write down what you are now going to continue doing: